Inmate faces murder trial for death at Vacaville prison

A Solano County Superior Court judge on Monday ordered a California Medical Facility inmate to stand trial on allegations that he assaulted another inmate in 2010, throwing the man over a third floor railing, leading to his death.

According to testimony at his preliminary hearing, Andrew Roman, 46, was an inmate serving a life sentence and was being housed at California Medical Facility in Vacaville in 2010 when the alleged homicide occurred. On March 8, 2010, numerous inmates witnessed the alleged altercation that led to inmate Michael Ferguson's death.

According to testimony from a Solano County District Attorney's Office investigator and a sergeant with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, witnesses saw Roman remove his shirt just before Ferguson walked past him on the third tier of "V" wing. About this time a correctional officer on the bottom floor heard a commotion and looked up to see an inmate falling to the ground.

One inmate told investigators he saw Ferguson roll himself up into a ball as he was being struck, while another inmate reported Roman then grabbed the victim by the back of his shirt and pants and threw him over the railing.

Roman was reported to have said the word "die" and other profanities as he threw the victim to his death, according to testimony.

Prosecutors said Roman was serving a life sentence following a second-degree murder conviction out of Los Angeles County.

The allegations made Roman eligible for the death penalty, although prosecutors announced on Monday that it would not be sought in this case.

Judge Wendy G. Getty ordered Roman to stand trial on one count of murder and a second count of assault by a life prisoner. He was ordered back to court at 9 a.m. on July 19 for arraignment.